Captains' Corner - An introduction

Welcome to the Captains’ Corner of the 2013 Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals being held in San Luis Potosi, Mexico this week.

There’s no denying that the captains have an extremely difficult and diverse position during this competition. And their job description stretches well beyond the confines of a rectangular tennis court.

The captain of each team is responsible for their three players in every aspect of the week, from boarding the plane, to the day-to-day in San Luis Potosi, until arriving back home. In terms of tennis, the captain is in charge of preparing his/her players to give their best during a match.

They also have to control everything that takes place off the court from making sure the players all understand the importance of behaving in a respectable manner around the grounds and hotel, to not wandering off on their own to any place other than the dedicated facilities, to making sure that they’re eating, hydrating and going to bed at a proper time. Bottom line: During this week the captain is coach and parent, which is a demanding responsibility.

On Monday, a preparation day for the start of play on Tuesday, one of the important happenings is the captain’s meeting. This event is hosted by Luca Santilli, the ITF’s head of the junior department. This is the forum where the captains are introduced to each other, and are provided with pertinent information regarding the rules and regulations of the tournament.

During the exciting week of action here at the Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup, where top international 16-and-under junior players will compete for their countries, this will be the spot where we highlight many of the team captains.